Herat - Demography

Demography

The population of Herat numbers approximately 397,500.

The exact figures on ethnic groups are not available but most sources state that Persian-speaking Tajiks are the main inhabitants of the city, and are roughly the same as the Persians of eastern Iran. According to a 2003 National Geographic suggested estimate, Tajiks form about 85% of the city population. Pashto-speaking Pashtuns come second at 10% followed by Shia Hazaras at 2%, Uzbeks at 2%, and Turkmens at 1%.

The native language of Herat (known as Herātī) belongs to the Khorāsānī cluster within Persian and is akin to the Persian dialects of eastern Iran, notably those of Mashhad and Khorasan Province.